8. Library Services

WSCLL is committed to the meaningful extension of Western Seminary library services to all of our distance students. We know that many of our students live in areas distant from both Western’s Cline-Tunnell library and from other quality theological resources. To make sure that you have the educational resources to succeed in your courses and programs, we are dedicated to:

1. Making digital tools such as the various AGES Digital Library CD Collections available to all students at an affordable cost through Portland’s Carriage House Bookstore.

2. Assisting students in finding and accessing their locally-available library resources.

3. Serving our distance students as possible and appropriate from the Portland Campus Cline-Tunnell Library.

4. Providing comprehensive online library resources, databases and links.

General Library Policies

a. You are encouraged to find books and articles locally whenever possible. This will expedite your studies and frequently provide much more comprehensive resources that we are able to provide remotely. We recommend that you use our online library catalog at
http://www.westernseminary.edu as your initial research engine to identify helpful materials. A check of your local library will then determine if they have the book or article for check out.

b. If your local library does not have the required books or articles in its collection, you may request that your local library initiate an interlibrary loan with Western’s Cline-Tunnell Library. Recognizing that few public libraries have significant theological holdings, this will be an oft-used option.

c. If you are a credit student and you do not have reasonable access to a local library, the Western Seminary library will provide a “direct-to-student” book loan. Enrichment students are not eligible for direct-to-student loans.

d. Books will be mailed when available (as for any student). If a book is not immediately available, the request will be placed in the fulfillment queue. No guarantees are made as to availability or delivery. Note: Book or photocopy requests will only be honored from students within the continental United States.

e. Requests for photocopies will be honored as for any Western student.

f. To provide a trackable system, WSCLL has created a “Book Request Form” on the WSCLL.net website requiring that the student first affirm that he or she has checked locally and that they have no access to an interlibrary loan. Upon submission, the information will be emailed automatically to the Cline-Tunnell the library for fulfillment, to Mark Baker at WSCLL for inclusion in the student’s file, and to James Stewart.

g. No student will be issued a grade for the course until all books have been returned to the library. Mark Baker or James Stewart will be responsible for following up on book delinquencies.

h. Students who will be visiting the campus, such as those attending course intensives, will be encouraged to use the time for library research and resourcing. The website will provide a place where students can notify the Library of their visit to campus at least two
weeks ahead of their arrival date to make sure materials that need to be ordered by interlibrary loan are available here when they arrive.

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